Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur behind Tesla, X, SpaceX, and the Department of Government Efficiency, had a succinct reaction to President Donald Trump’s appearance at NASCAR’s Daytona 500. Trump was a prominent presence during the pre-race events on Sunday, riding in “The Beast” for a lap around Daytona International Speedway. He also delivered a special message to the drivers, which was transmitted over their radios just before the race began.
“This is your favorite president. I’m a big fan,” Trump stated. “I’m a really big fan of you people. (How) you do this, I don’t know. But I just want you to be safe. You’re talented people and great people and great Americans. Have a good day. Have a lot of fun and I’ll see you later.”
Musk shared his thoughts on X, simply writing, “Awesome.”
Trump, along with a group of individuals who accompanied him on Air Force One, attended the race for a few laps, although rain caused a delay in the restart for several hours. Ultimately, William Byron claimed victory, marking his second consecutive win at the Daytona 500.
During an interview with FOX Sports’ Jamie Little, Trump praised the bravery of the drivers who race at speeds nearing 200 mph. “They have a lot of courage doing this. I see it, and I’ve been here,” he remarked. “They have a lot of guts, as they would say.”
Accompanied by his granddaughter on the track, Trump also reflected on the progress of the United States since the beginning of his second presidential term. “I think it’s fantastic. I think it’s great for the country,” he expressed. “The country is doing well again. We have spirit all over the world. There’s spirit again, we brought it back and it’s been less than four weeks. You’ll see what we do in a little period of time. It’s gonna only get better. But this is very exciting.
